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While man-made blockages are a common occurrence in Britain’s sewer network, Yorkshire Water were left with a huge repair job on their hands when they found that gallons of wet concrete had been illegally poured into a sewer in Pudsey, West Yorkshire.
This blockage under Waterloo Road in the town has affected the entire system and a significant operation is underway to remove it. The pipe flow has been severely compromised in some places and so the road works, which began this week, are widespread (at a 15 metre stretch).
Drain maintenance contractors have been called in as a CCTV inspection revealed the scale of the problem. Local property owners were the first to notice flooding under their homes.
A new pipe is needed due to the damage caused by the concrete, although a waste cutter and high pressure water jetting were used in the first instance to see if they could prevent the need for excavation work.
Project manager for Yorkshire Water, John Bond, said:

“For someone to pour such a huge quantity of concrete into the sewer is quite simply an act of vandalism, and one that has already had awful consequences for several local property owners.
"Whilst we regularly remove hundreds of man-made blockages from our sewers, we’ve never seen anything like this and simply can’t believe someone would be so irresponsible as to pour such a huge volume of concrete down a drain.
"Our priority now is to get this blockage removed as quickly as possible, with the minimum amount of fuss and disruption."

This summer a regional water and sewerage operator is to take to the streets to spread the message about how the public can do their bit to prevent blockages in the sewers.
Yorkshire Water has just got their 'Are You Doing the Dirty?' campaign underway as it goes out and about to places like Scarborough, Sheffield, York and Leeds to educate people in why many sewer flooding incidents occur.
The company are giving away a number of freebies as part of the campaign while prizes can also be won.
It has taken these steps to meet the public and make them aware of this issue as around 37 percent of sewer blockages were found to have been preventable. They were due to the wrong things being put down sinks and toilets causing blockages and sewer flooding.
The campaign is aimed at reducing the damage and devastation caused to homes in the region and to lower the chances that pipes will become blocked.
Everyone is reminded of the fact that they can help with this by just changing their behaviour somewhat. Yorkshire Water has issued guidelines on this to tackle the problem of home flooding.
For any serious blockages or flooding of your home or business, it is always advisable to speak to the drain maintenance specialists to address this issue.

In the last article we looked at one scenario whereby having a drain maintenance contract would be cost effective as the experts could utilise their experience and access to the right machinery to remove any blockages in the system. However, the programme is incredibly useful over the longer term.
Drain repairs are only there to rectify a problem, but regular maintenance can prevent this from occurring in the first place. By keeping the drainage system in check, you can ensure that your business is not disrupted by flooding.
The technician will produce a report on the drains and look to remove any rough edges or soiling which could lead to issues in the future. This allows the professionals to devise a course of action in dealing with any blockages.
While maintaining the drains, engineers will work out the best way to tackle anything which could prevent the smooth flow of water in the pipes. You can just leave it all to those with the know-how of working in this area and an annual contract means you are always covered for every eventuality.
For businesses in large cities, a drain maintenance programme would be a good idea, as you could benefit from an unlimited number of call-outs and rest in the knowledge your drainage is being well taken care of.

Many businesses suffer from the problems associated with blocked drains and flooding every year. This can put a strain on their resources and not just in terms of money. The trouble associated with waste water contamination can leave working premises unusable for long periods of time.
This is why a drain maintenance programme or service contract would be beneficial for companies in big cities like London where the drainage system is often working at full capacity.
The following are reasons why this programme could give you peace of mind that your business would be covered throughout the year.
Firstly, should a blockage occur on your premises, professionals have access to the latest technology, which includes high pressure water jetting equipment as well as rotating core plant. Any debris causing the problem can be cleared with the minimum of fuss, while the engineers will also look to establish what caused the issue in the first place.
It is crucial to understand if the area is likely to experience the same problems again, as this can save another visit from the specialists. But with a drainage contract, if there was any further need for work to be done, the technician could be sent round straight away.

Over 450,000 tonnes of storm sewage was discharged into the River Thames last week after downpours drenched the capital.
After the event a clean up of the river had to be carried out due to the number of dead fish and raw sewage seen floating between Kew Bridge and Albert Bridge.
The rainfall on Sunday the 5th of June and Monday the 6th of June forced waste water out of the sewer system through the overflow points that lead into the river.
The Environment Agency director for the south east, Howard Davidson, stated:

“This is a major sewage pollution incident which has caused the death of a huge number of fish.
“We are currently monitoring Thames Water’s clean up efforts and assessing the full impact but unfortunately we may never know the exact numbers of fish that have died.”

Thames Water say they regretted the incident and hoped future solutions would stop such an event
happening again. Martin Braggs from Thames Water stated:

“Incidents like this are clearly totally unsatisfactory in a modern capital city and we have a major programme of work under way to sort the problem out.
“In the west London area this includes a 50 per cent increase in treatment capacity at our Mogden sewage treatment works, which will be complete early in 2013, and the proposed Thames Tunnel.”

A flood prevention scheme in Crosby is making good progress, say water company United Utilities. The £4 million scheme is expected to prevent sewers flooding at times of heavy rainfall.
Sewers in South Road have been replaced with larger diameter pipes and the works have now moved to Bath Street. Drainage engineers are hopeful that the scheme will stop the problems previously experienced, when properties in the area were flooded due to the stormwater not being able to be taken away quickly enough. This excess stormwater regularly spilled into gardens and peoples homes.
The project got underway a couple of months ago and is expected to take until spring 2012 to complete.
The project manager for the scheme Michael Murphy stated:

"By increasing the size of the sewers, we can ensure they hold more water when the heavens open, thereby reducing the risk of flooding.
"This is the kind of important scheme that people's water bills help to pay for. The scheme means that our engineers will be a regular presence in Crosby throughout the remainder of the year and into next, but we'll be doing everything we can to minimise inconvenience to motorists, residents and businesses."

United Utilities are warning that some of the main roads in Lancaster will be reduced to a single lane every evening for the next couple of weeks, as planning for the city’s sewer upgrade programme goes ahead.
Various roads will see restrictions imposed while inspections to the current sewer system take place. Most of the disruption caused will be minimal, as the lanes will only be closed between 8:00pm and 6:00am. Traffic management systems will be in place while the investigations are carried out and the roads will be returned back to full capacity every morning.
Heavy rain causes flooding into the River Lune from the sewer system, so when the improvements go ahead the engineers hope the risk of flooding will be eliminated.
The Co-ordinator on the project John Byron stated:

"This first phase of work is to gather vital intelligence so we can produce a bespoke engineering solution fit for Lancaster and protect the local environment and water courses.
"Due to the nature of the works it makes it quite difficult for access so that's why we need to shut down traffic lanes in the city.
"We are sorry for the disruption but it will be worth it in the long run. The survey work is essential to the scheme."

It is no surprises that clogged drains are a homeowner’s worst nightmare for a number of reasons. It is possible to use some simple do it yourself methods to do drain cleaning. But one should remember that timely drain maintenance and repairs will take care of everything. One can use things like drain jetting equipment, boiling hot water or chemical drain cleaners to unclog troublesome drains.
It can be frustrating at times, but following a few preventive measures will help you maintain your drains in the long run.
Preventive measures you can follow
• Avoid draining any fatty or greasy fluids into your drains as they cling to the sides of the pipes and obstruct the flow of waste water and eventually lead to an unwanted clog.
• Another big culprit that often goes unnoticed is hair bundles. They block the drains completely and create a blockage. So it is always better to clean the plugholes in your bathrooms on a regular basis.
• For regular drain maintenance you can make a mixture of hot water, vinegar and baking soda and treat your drains with this solution every fifteen days. This will surely take care of any blocks you are likely to face.
• Also, make sure you clean your bathroom, sinks and other clog prone areas once every week. This does not allow any dirt and dust to settle in the pipes.
• Do not throw any diapers, sanitary pads and other such disposables down the drain as they will surely cause a blockage somewhere.
You can be free from any worries about drain clogs if you adopt these preventive measures.

A clogged drain can cause a lot of discomfort. Be it in your home or in a larger organisation. Just the image of water accumulating in your kitchen or bathroom can make you uneasy. It is therefore necessary to follow certain tips on drain maintenance so that you can tackle this problem.
How to maintain the drain
Drain maintenance requires a lot of effort and patience. Hiring professional help can get the job done quickly and efficiently. What caused the drain to clog? This should be the first question asked when dealing with clogged drains. Pieces of plastic, hair and other particles cause the drains to get blocked. Ensure that your drain maintenance is an activity which is carried out regularly.
Pouring boiling hot water down your drain can sometimes help you clean your drain. The different types of cleaning equipments and products can also be used on a regular basis so that your drain can remain unblocked.
Professional drain cleaners use various techniques to ensure that your drains are clean. For larger organisations opting for the jetting techinque is a viable option. In this process, water is passed through the drain at a high force, which breaks down the waste particles and flushes them out. They also use strong chemical based products so that the process of drain cleaning is done professionally.
Drain maintenance, is an important chore which deserves special attention. Proper drain maintenance can also rid your home or organisation of any diseases which can often be caused by excess waste. Regular drain maintenance also ensures that your kitchen and bathroom does not emit a questionable odour, leaving you embarrassed amongst your guests.

Clean water and proper waste water disposal systems are prerequisite factors in a domestic setting. The key here is a properly maintained drainage system. Newer structures use PVC pipes, which are unlikely to split or corrode. Owners rarely have to worry about clogged drains or broken pipes. Older homes use clay or iron pipes which are prone to corrosion. Tree roots can also find their way into these pipes and exacerbate the cracks.
Drains in older homes
Many people prefer older homes because of their love for old architecture. However, these come with their problems. And one of these is the state of the old, worn drainage systems. The older the home is, the likelier it is that you might have to make provisions for regular drain maintenance.
The shortcomings of iron pipes
The problem with iron pipes, as are used in most old homes, is that they are prone to corrosion. It is difficult to patch up a corroded pipe and in some cases you might have to replace a section of sewer. You should never put off having your iron drainage pipes inspected if you have a nagging suspicion they may be corroded or scaled.
Clay drains
Your dream home might also have clay drainage pipe. These can crack and break as the years go by. The major culprits here are tree roots. These can find their way through hairline cracks and shatter or clog the drain completely. Most drain cleaning services have snake augurs which can effectively saw through the toughest of tree roots.